บท 21: Chapter 20 : I’ll be your girlfriend
Jimmy wanted to say, "If you're going to hit him, then don't hit me."
But he knew that wasn't possible.
Watching his teammates suffer, he chose silence instead.
Bang!
The wrist holding the gun was seized, and the bullet narrowly missed his scalp.
"Trying to die?"
Russell looked at Jimmy, who seemed on the edge of suicide. His eyes narrowed as he pieced it together, surprise flashing across his face.
"I didn't expect you to be a clone," he muttered, almost amused. "Guess I underestimated you."
In Russell's view, this was the most cowardly clone he had ever seen—pathetic enough to survive in the void.
But it didn't matter.
Even though one couldn't usually plunder entries from a clone, Russell understood that Jimmy's clone wasn't truly himself. Even if he did plunder something, it would likely be an ordinary ability, not special.
Still, the clone might serve a purpose.
With a 'friendly' smile, Russell leaned in and asked, "Want this to be over quickly?"
As he spoke, his palm began to glow with a faint red heat.
Sizzle.
The scent of charred flesh filled the air, and the clone of Jimmy screamed as the searing pain overtook him.
In mere seconds, his right hand was charred to ash.
Within five seconds, the forearm, too, lay in pieces.
Eight seconds later, his elbow was reduced to little more than carbon.
In ten seconds, Russell had gained a "friendly consensus" from Mr. Jimmy.
A few minutes later…
Russell finished off the clone casually, then paused, deep in thought.
He had managed to extract a wealth of information from Jimmy: Cassandra's organization had a roster of 46 mutants, including Red Tank, Red Devil, Fireman, Sabretooth, Death Woman, Toad, War Trace, Scorpion Man, Meatball, Torrent, and many others. It boasted powerful weaponry as well as Cassandra's arsenal of enchanted artifacts and potions.
With all that strength, Russell wondered how the small group of Wolverines managed to succeed in Deadpool 3. He'd thought the film exaggerated things. For one, if they'd used an electromagnetic car, X-23 and Wolverine wouldn't even have registered as a threat. Blade and Erica? They were only human, barely a match for heavy weaponry. As for Deadpool, his combat power alone wouldn't be enough.
Russell just couldn't see how they won. Besides, Cassandra's mental abilities were staggering—far beyond his capacity to handle alone. Even Doctor Strange, equipped with the Infinity Ring, had been captured.
With a resigned sigh, Russell thought, The time tablet might be my only way forward.
Determined, he raised his weapon, aiming at the unconscious Siren. A second later, a familiar system voice echoed in his mind:
[Entry successfully plundered!]
[X Ability – Sound Wave (Blue-Purple)]
The ability description followed:
Sonar: Can assess surroundings with various resolutions in complete darkness and gauge the distance of objects.Sonic Scream: Emits sound waves that cause dizziness and imbalance in targets.Flight: Using a special wingsuit, can hover or fly at subsonic speeds.
Russell didn't hesitate and loaded the entry immediately. Although he'd need a wingsuit to fly, the Venom suit allowed him to avoid the hassle of switching gear. He could simply shape-shift for flight as needed. Sonic Scream, he thought, would make a solid surprise attack in close combat.
Satisfied with the results of his mission, Russell casually snapped his fingers, dispelling a web of magic.
If he hadn't wanted to experiment with Spider-Man's abilities—combining magic with close-quarters combat—he'd have taken down Siren in ten seconds.
He turned toward the still-stunned young wolf girl and squatted, offering a smile.
"Hey, kid. I saved your life. Any thoughts on how you'll repay me?"
Laura blinked up at him, half-fearing he'd vanish if she took her eyes off him for even a second.
"Are you really that dense?" she muttered, dazed. "What kind of drugs are you on?"
Russell pinched her cheek and checked her pupils, finding them normal. But just as he began to feel confused, Laura spoke:
"My name… is Laura."
Her voice was slow, deliberate, like she feared he might not catch it.
Russell nodded. "I'm Russell."
He decided to adopt his name in this world, dropping any trace of his old identity.
After she repeated his name, Laura suddenly looked up, her expression serious.
"I'm not a scumbag," she declared.
Russell chuckled, caught off guard. "I know, I was just messing around."
Quickly, he changed the subject. "So, where's your base? I'll take you back."
Without hesitation, she replied, "I'll be your girlfriend!"
Russell nearly choked. "Relax. Comics aren't real life."
He scooped her onto his back effortlessly, carrying her through two hours of forest paths to her base—a secluded, overgrown structure near a stream. Though it looked abandoned from the outside, it was cozy within, with mismatched sofas and a clean water reservoir.
"Where are your teammates?" he asked.
"I've been on my own in the void for three years," Laura replied.
Russell settled her on a sofa and asked, "Why didn't you join a friendlier mutant organization?"
Laura shook her head. "When I arrived, Cassandra's people found me first. You can't tell who's good or who's hiding something here."
Russell nodded, knowing good people were rare in the void. "So, how are you feeling?"
"I can't move yet," Laura admitted, her voice weaker.
Russell scratched his head. Leaving her vulnerable now would be a waste of effort. "Then I'll stay a while longer."
He lifted her again. "Where's your room?"
Laura pointed toward a dark cave. Russell navigated through the shadows until he reached a small, carved-out room, barely ten square meters in size. With his night vision, he could tell it was designed as a hiding spot.
Just as he was about to lay her down, Laura's grip tightened, and they both stumbled.
Russell's spider sense stayed quiet; she meant no harm. But what was she up to?
"Didn't you say I was your girlfriend?" she whispered.
"Are you serious?"
"I am," Laura said without missing a beat.
Russell could feel her breath on his face, and warmth began to rise. "You're too young."
"I'm sixteen. That's old enough," she countered. "I like you. You can feel it, can't you?"
Russell couldn't deny it, unsure of what to say.
She continued, "I can feel your heartbeat. You can't pretend you're annoyed."
Taking a deep breath, Russell finally smiled.
Letting himself relax, he leaned in.
That night, the silence of the darkness was broken
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